Walker planning panel approves special land use for Bunker Social GR indoor golf venue

The Walker Planning Commission voted to approve a special land use allowing Bunker Social GR to operate an indoor golf-simulator and short-game facility with an on-site hospitality lounge at 2210 Northridge Drive Northwest.

Paula Priebe, the city’s planning director, introduced the proposal and recommended approval after staff review. She told the commission the application envisions about 30,000 square feet of commercial recreation within a larger industrial planned unit development and said engineering, police, fire and public works raised no objections during the review. “I recommend approval and I have no advised conditions to put on that approval,” Priebe said.

The motion, made by Commissioner Rob and supported by Commissioner Jacob, included a single condition: alcoholic beverages may be sold only to members or others who are using the indoor golf services. The commission approved the motion by voice vote; the record reflects the motion carried but a numerical roll-call tally was not recorded.

Applicant David Roden described Bunker Social GR as a predominantly membership-based venue combining golf simulators, a 5,000-square-foot short-game practice area with sand bunkers and a hospitality lounge. Roden said the business will focus on corporate accounts during daytime hours and family or member use in the evenings, with limited public access possible through a short rental window if membership capacity allows. “It’s a private golf organization that will have a warming kitchen and a basic liquor license to do support with beer and wine and liquor,” Roden said.

Priebe walked commissioners through site details, noting that the parcel is encumbered by overhead power lines and is zoned IPUD (industrial planned unit development) with enterprise/industrial land use nearby. She said the zoning ordinance requires one parking space per 800 square feet for commercial uses and that the submitted site plan shows 109 parking spaces; the commercial-recreation portion of the building would require at least 30 spaces. Roden told the commission he expects peak demand of roughly 50–80 spaces and that he is exploring a parking arrangement with the adjacent hotel if needed.

Commissioner Rob sought assurances that the approved special land use would not inadvertently allow an unrelated operator to convert the space into a different recreation use without further review. Rob also pushed for a condition limiting the bar-like services to members and users; staff and the applicant agreed the restriction could be imposed as a condition of approval. Rob noted that approval follows the application submitted on March 17 and that any substantially different use later would require its own special land use review.

Priebe told the commission that obtaining a liquor license would require both state and local approval and directed the applicant to work with the state contact referenced in the staff report and with Walker’s commission under the local liquor ordinance (section 6.4). The applicant acknowledged the licensing step and said he is working with counsel on that process.

The commission also heard from Patty Kelly, the landlord’s representative, who said the tenant’s portion of the building will have separate heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment from neighboring industrial units. Roden outlined community outreach plans and potential partnerships, naming organizations such as Special Olympics and First Tee as possible collaborators for donated or outreach programming.

With the special land use approved and the alcohol condition in place, the applicant still must complete build-out and secure any required liquor license before opening. Commissioners welcomed the project to Walker; Paula Priebe announced the May 6 meeting was canceled for lack of new business, and the commission adjourned.

What happens next: Bunker Social GR will pursue interior build-out and the necessary liquor-license approvals at the state level and with the Walker City Commission before opening to members and authorized users.